The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-09-23

devotion counts for anything, I'll win
you yet--if l wait years. Good bye,
and God bless youl"
The next moment he had gone, leav-
ing the sound of his impassioned words
ringing in Nelly's ears.
He kept his word. Never did olden
knight pay more chivalrous devotion
to the lady of his love than did Orrin
Eden to Nelly Canlis. He never let
her forget that one heart beat for her
alone. Constantly recurring little acts
of kindness touched the lonely woman,
and at last paved the way to friendship.
He won the boys affections, so that
his name became a household word, so
often was it upon their lips. Then as
they grew older and more difficult to
manage, the little mother used to 20
to Mr.. Eden for advice, and at last,
in trusting confidence and respect, if
not with the first fresh love she had
given to the lover-husband Of her girl
hood, she consented to marry him.
Their home was happy one, for in
dustry and honor joined hands in it.
Some fifteen years later We will look
in upon them. The youngest son,
Teddy, has just returned from a theo-
logical seminary. He is fitting him
self for missionary, and his whole
soul is in his intended work. Willie,
the elder, has a different turn. He
has risen rapidly from the post of
office-boy in the bank, until now, at
the age of twenty-five, he has the posi-
tion of cashier. He has held it for
some three months, but, short as that
time has been, it has given his princi-
Piles test. Tonight, as he sits beside
his mother, his face is bright with
some pleasant intelligence he has to
communicate.
"Mother," he said, "do you remem-
ber the time you made Ted and me
eat humble pie for taking some old
nails?'
Nelly looks at Ler husband and
smiles.
"If she don't remember it, do" Mr..
Eden responded, before she had time
to reply.
"Well, mother, you made my for
TIME oy the lesson you gave me at that
time"
Sand gained you a father, too,"
said Mr.. Eden; "for that's the date of
my first fancy for the present Mrs. Ell
den," he continued, in response to
Willie's look of surprise. Sand a
pretty chase she led me, too; but won
the day at last. But tell US, lad, how
you've made your fortune"
"Just this way: An eccentric and
careless old gentleman paid some
money into the bank last week. The
bills were all of a large denomination
five thousand apiece. By some
means two of them had become so
firmly fastened together that they ap-
peared like one As L passed them
through my fingers, l noticed a differ
ence in the feeling, and with some sur
prise, found the two bills counting as
one. They had passed through other
hands, and had not been separated.
The thought never came to my mind
to appropriate the money, thanks to
your teaching, mother, and returned
it, as a matter of course. Mr.. Gilbert
chose to make great thing of it, and
has offered me position as his private
secretary, at salary double that ] am
getting now. So, you see, l can ask
Alice to be my wife at once, instead
Of keeping her waiting, as we expect
ed, for years; for | never would have
taken her from her luxurious home un
til | could have given her one as com
Portable, if not as elegant"
$50, you see, my boy, that Honesty
is the best policy Well, you couldn't
help doing as you have, with YOU
mothers blood in your veins. Coult
he, Ted?" said Mr.. Eden, proudly.
Ted was seated on low stool, with
his curly head upon his mothers knee
He looked up in her face, and smiled
as she passed her fingers through hi
brown locks.
"Mother knows what we all think o.
her, don't you dear' If you were no
so good, we'd surely spoil you will
flattery.'
Ihe mothers eyes were susplclousl.
bright, and Will began to rattle ava.
some nonsense. He was determined
that the tears should not fall on sucl
a happy occasion; for though they ar
ever "akin to joy Will had the usua
masculine dislike to them, and he sool
had the party laughing merrily at hi
gay sallies. Thus we leave them
happy and respected by all who know
them,